ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) announced on Sunday that American forces delivered a second batch of humanitarian aid to displaced persons from areas northwest of the enclave. The head of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) office for internally displaced persons and refugees, Sheikhmous Ahmed, confirmed that “the relief supplies were delivered by American forces.” He added that “this is the second batch of aid transferred” by US troops with the aim of supporting displaced persons from Afrin, Shahba, and Tal Rifaat. In 2018, Turkey and allied Syrian militias seized Afrin from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which serves as the backbone of Rojava’s de facto army, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The offensive led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kurds from Rojava, many of whom sought refuge in the nearby Shahba region. Later, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) forces attacked SDF posts in Shahba and captured the area, prompting further displacement to other Kurdish-controlled regions. The new batch of aid includes baby formula, clothing, detergents and medical supplies, which will be distributed to shelter centers housing the displaced persons in Raqqa and Tabqa, according to Ahmed. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the SDF emphasized that the aid “will help alleviate the suffering of those displaced,” stressing “the importance of sustained support for the region to ensure stability and promote development, which is essential for preventing the resurgence of [the Islamic State] ISIS.” Recent changes in US policy have posed challenges for the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava, particularly regarding the distribution of humanitarian aid. The suspension of foreign aid by the Donald Trump administration has impacted essential services in camps like al-Hol, raising concerns over security and the return of ISIS. Of note, the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria’s Hasaka province is home to some 40,000 residents with ties to ISIS, who have been held there since the group's defeat in Syria in 2019. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Syria's interim government on Thursday to work with the US-led coalition against extremist groups, emphasizing the need to integrate the SDF into Syria's transitional process. Macron also called for substantial aid to rebuild Syria, amid uncertainties over the future of US military support.
